by lauren stanforth, Staff writer

Published 11:45 am, Sunday, January 29, 2012

ALBANY — A man escaped police twice Saturday morning before being arrested for breaking into his ex-girlfriend's apartment.

Albany police spokesman James Miller said the woman called 911 around 9 a.m. Saturday after allegedly finding Tristan Jenkins, 28, in her apartment on Third Street.

When police arrived, they found Jenkins hiding in a storage closet in the basement. But he was able to push an officer out of the way to escape, punching his ex-girlfriend in the face and shoving down the building's landlord before leaving, Miller said.

The suspect led police on a foot chase through several backyards on Livingston Avenue before officers caught up with him at Terminal Street, Miller said. As police were putting him into a patrol car, he shoved his way out again and broke free. He ran down Livingston a short distance before being placed into custody, police said.

Jenkins was charged with second-degree burglary, third-degree assault, resisting arrest, escape from custody and fourth and fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property. He was arraigned in Albany City Court and sent to the Albany County Jail.